How Common Is It for Two Ships to Collide?

Although the ocean stretches as far as the eye can see and beyond, although there would seem to be plenty of space for all vessels to sail across it unmolested, although maritime technology has improved tremendously with the passage of time, the conditions seem to still be in place for ships to collide. Oil tankers, navy destroyers, passenger cruise ships, yachts, and all types of boats, seem to crash into each other due to many different conditions and circumstances.

Why do ships collide?

Hearing about ship collisions is not surprising since it’s something that is frequently reported in the news. And there seem to be several common reasons why these collisions occur, such as:

Equipment failure – Maneuvering a large vessel with an engine that has failed is pretty much impossible. And if other pieces of equipment essential for the vessel’s functioning are also malfunctioning, a collision is almost inevitable.

Infrastructure problems – A draw bridge that drops prematurely or any other object on land is out of position, collisions may occur.

Weather conditions – Having the greatest impact on maritime accidents, weather conditions are close to the top reasons for the majority of at-sea collisions. Fog can effectively obstruct vision, the force exerted by high winds can push boats off course, ice floes can damage the sturdiest vessels and force them to swerve unexpectedly. And when combined with human negligence, the perfect recipe for a collision presents itself.

Human error – Negligence, carelessness, mistakes, errors, all these and more human flaws are generally present when ships collide at sea. Also, differences in maritime traffic signaling across different geographical regions make sailing similar to driving on the wrong side of the road when visiting a foreign country. That is why human error is the number one cause for collisions at sea.

What are the most common types of collisions?

Circumstances leading to collisions vary widely. Among the most common collision types, there are:

Allisions – This is the term used for collisions that take place between a vessel and a stationary object, such as a seawall or bridge.

Bow-on collisions – These refer to two boats striking each other head-on.

Stern collisions – When one vessel runs into the rear of another.

Side collisions – When one ship is stuck on its side by another boat. These resemble T-bone car accidents.

What are the results of these accidents and collisions?

No matter how the ships collide, any of the above accidents can quickly lead to injuries or death for crewmembers or passengers. Additionally, the vessels may need extensive repairs and, in many cases are total losses as well.

Can ship collisions be avoided?

Many collisions take place when either one or both vessels involved were not aware that the other one was nearby until it’s too late and avoiding the collision is no longer possible. That’s why it becomes so critical for captains and crew members to be alert at all times, using not only their eyes and ears but all the modern tools that are available today, especially when navigating in congested waters. Skills and ideas for collision avoidance must be learned and shared.

If you have been involved in a ship collision and need maritime legal help, the law offices of Lipcon, Margulies, Alsina & Winkleman, PA can give you the guidance and advice you require now.

 

Feature Image by skeeze from Pixabay